Infection Prevention Information

Protect yourself!

YOU are your best defense against viruses and other infections. Follow these simple tips to keep you and your family
healthy:*

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, for 20 seconds.

Or, use a hand sanitizer that is least 60% alcohol-based.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoid sharing food, cups or eating utensils.

Disinfect your home and belongings, such as children’s toys and play areas.

Stay home from school or work if you are sick.

Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with a tissue, your sleeve or your elbow and NOT your bare
hands.

Get a flu shot

Call your local hospital or your primary care doctor with any questions.

*Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Ebola

Ebola Virus Disease is a rare and deadly disease that is native to several African countries. It is caused by infection with
Ebola virus. You can only get Ebola from:

Touching the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.

Touching contaminated objects, like needles.

Touching infected animals, their blood or other body fluids, or their meat.

Note: You cannot get Ebola through water, the air, or food.

Community Risk & Hospital Preparedness

The threat of a widespread outbreak of Ebola in the United States is very low. The CDC and the Federal Government are
taking many measures to help prevent spread of Ebola in the U.S.

Our hospital is committed to protecting the health of our community.

We follow infection control procedures as recommended by the CDC and our state health department. Routine infection
control procedures that are used to prevent the spread of any viral illness also can control and manage Ebola cases and ensure the
safety of other patients in the hospital.

While we do not anticipate Ebola impacting our community, out of an abundance of caution, we are taking additional
safety precautions.

Enterovirus D-68

Enterovirus D-68 (EV-D68) is a type of virus that causes upper respiratory illness. EV-D68 is a non-polio enterovirus. Non-polio
enteroviruses are very common viruses, causing 10 to 15 million infections in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Copyright 2018 Northwest Medical Center.
All Rights Reserved.
It is the policy of Northwest Medical Center to admit
and treat all residents without regard to race,
color, national origin, sex, age or handicap